With 5.6 million Nigerians still unmetered, power regulators and distributors are tightening collaboration to deliver free meters nationwide.
The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Nigeria’s 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) have stepped up talks to fast-track the rollout of free electricity meters, as the country battles a metering gap estimated at 5.66 million.
Speaking in Abuja, BPE Director-General Ayodeji Gbeleyi said the meeting was aimed at strengthening cooperation under the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP), a World Bank–backed initiative designed to fix long-standing gaps in Nigeria’s power distribution system.
According to him, $500 million has been committed under Phase One of DISREP, with 700,000 meters already supplied and about 200,000 installed so far. The focus now, he said, is to accelerate installations and ensure every eligible customer is metered in line with federal government policy.
Gbeleyi urged DISCOs to strictly implement the programme, noting that closing the metering gap is key to improving transparency, efficiency and financial sustainability in the power sector before year-end.
DISCO representatives, in their responses, pledged full support for the programme but raised concerns about alleged extortion by some meter installers, vowing to expose and sanction anyone found exploiting customers.
As the push continues, Nigerians are being assured that free meters are coming — and sharp practices won’t be tolerated.
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